"We believe in the power of teaching children to see the humanity in one another with schools at the forefront of this work. We know it takes work, patience, and resources. We know it is a shift in ideology and requires deep changes at the level of institutions. But we believe it can happen and that education can forge the path."
- Sahba Rohani
A year ago at this time, I wrote to you, our dedicated community, acknowledging the unprecedented challenges of the year and to express my support. Sadly, this continues to be a difficult time for schools, impacting educators, school leaders, care givers, and most of all, our children. The impact of the coronavirus and its variants continues to challenge the world, and with details changing every day, it is not lost on us, at Roots ConnectED, how much you must adapt, with patience and flexibility at the forefront. Educators are a cherished and often unseen essential worker.
We have been thinking of your herculean efforts as the new school year has begun, working hard to create spaces of belonging and learning for children across the nation. We know that the reopening of schools requires a re-thinking and re-imagining on so many levels …
To say that this year has been an unprecedented one, a challenging one, and an overwhelming one, would be a gross understatement. The ravaging effects of the two pandemics have forced schools to dig deep, face inequitable systems, structures, and curriculum, pushed to design and rethink schools, while centering equity and community building.
We are in a pivotal moment in the history of our country. While the things that make us different continue to exist, and institutional structures continue to uphold inequities, people in communities around the world have found ways to show empathy and kindness, revealing the interconnected nature of our reality and the resilience of the human family. In these moments when we are being asked to isolate from one another, the opportunities to connect as members of a school community becomes even more imperative.
We are in a pivotal moment in the history of our country. While the things that make us different continue to exist, and institutional structures continue to uphold inequities, people in communities around the world have found ways to show empathy and kindness, revealing the interconnected nature of our reality and the resilience of the human family. In these moments when we are being asked to isolate from one another, the opportunities to connect as members of a school community becomes even more imperative.
We are certain that all of you who are at the forefront of caring for students and their families across the country are working ever so diligently to meet the needs of the children you serve. As teachers and leaders who are navigating new ways to reach their students, taking into consideration both their social-emotional and diverse learning needs, we can imagine the level of thought and intent that has been taken through these unprecedented times. Through all of this, we hope that you are finding moments to acknowledge all you are doing to care for others.
This past summer, I had the honor and privilege of visiting the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, AL. The incredibly powerful way in which this memorial forces us to face our history has sat with me for the last few months as we at Roots ConnectED have been working relentlessly to share practices of anti-bias education in school communities across the country.
As our nation becomes ever more divisive, Roots ConnectED envisions a unified world, one that is only possible when built upon a foundation of justice.
Whew—how quickly the 2018-2019 school year has flown! This year has been a monumental one for Roots ConnectED, bringing together over 175 educators and school leaders from across the country in RC workshops and institutes, with topics ranging from Talking about Race, Power and Identity in Early Elementary School to Using Universal Design for Learning to Meet the Needs of Diverse Learners. With our foundational commitment to fostering the development of inclusive and integrated school communities nationwide, 2018-2019 was a year in which our mission materialized in expansive and dynamic ways.
Messages From Our Director
